FISS (Falls In Stroke Survivors)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Falls In Stroke Survivors: A randomised controlled trial to evaluate the clinical and cost effectiveness of the Stroke Action Falls rehabilitation programme compared to usual care alone to reduce falls in stroke survivors.
IRAS ID
331214
Contact name
Pip Logan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN00000000
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
After a stroke, some people may have balance problems leaving them unsteady on their feet and increasing their risk of falling when moving around. Falls are a prevalent and costly concern for stroke survivors discharged from the hospital, with 73% experiencing at least one fall within their first-year post-stroke.
Currently stroke services provide some information about preventing falls after a stroke as part of standard care, but the information and support provided depends on the patient’s regional service.
The research aims to find out whether the addition of the Stroke Action Falls (SAF) programme to usual care is better than usual care alone in reducing the number of falls in stroke survivors 12 months after discharge from hospital. The SAF programme comprises of a checklist and action plan which each stroke patient completes with the support of a Falls Lead, to identify their falls risks and suitable actions to minimise these. The checklist and action plan will be completed at an in-person home visit (where possible), with scheduled follow-ups to ensure that each participant’s action plan remains suitable in the 6 months after their discharge from hospital.
The trial will recruit 464 stroke patients into the trial. To be eligible patients must be discharged home (their home, a friend/relatives home etc) and not a care home. Participants must be willing to record their falls monthly (or have a patient legal representative, friend, relative or carer willing to complete on their behalf) for 12 months after they join the trial. Participants will also be sent questionnaires 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after they join the trial.REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/NE/0135
Date of REC Opinion
20 Aug 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion